Handle-bar and attachment for bicycles



(No Model.)

0. G. DIETERIGH & J. BOULTON. HANDLE BAR AND ATTACHMENT FOR BIOYGLES.

No. 555,150. Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

A TTORNEM I lar intervals, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Nrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CARL G. DIETERIGH AND JESSE BOULTON, OF BROOKLYN, NE YORK.

HANDLE-BAR AND ATTACHMENT FOR BlCYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,150, dated February 25, 1896.

Application filed March 12,1895. Serial N0 541,393- (NO model.)

To all whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that we, CARL G. DIETERICH, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and JESSE BOULTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handle-Bars and Attachments for Bicycles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to bicycles, and the object thereof is to provide improved means for connecting the handle-bar to the main post or upright of the front fork of the machine; also, to provide an improved support for a lantern and means by which the handlebar and also the lantern-support may be turned at a right or other angle to that of the normal position of the handle whenever desired. These objects we accomplish bymeans of the construction described in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 represents in elevation a bicycle provided with our improvement; Fig. 2, a portion of the frame, showing the improvement more fully; Fig. 3, the same portion of the frame with the parts in a different position and Fig. 4, a spring-clamp and lanternholder, which constitute part of ourimprovement, the clamp being in section.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the main post or upright arranged within the usual sleeve 52 of the front fork of the bicycle and divided to form the fork at This post is tubular and provided at its top with a head 1 of greater diameter than the .main part thereof, at the bottom of which is an abrupt circular shoulder or projection 5 and the top of which is provided with a number of lugs or projections 6, arranged at regu- The handle-bar '7 is also tubular and is connected with a tubular shank or spindle 8, adapted to enter the tubular post Mounted on or secured to this shank or spindle is an annular head 9, corresponding in diameter with the head 4: on the post 2, and in the lower perimeter of which are formed notches or recesses 10, corresponding in number and form to the lugs or projections 6 on the head 4, which are adapted to enter thereinto, as shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the head 9, and on the front side thereof when the handle-bar is in its normal position, is a combined spring-clamp and lantern-holder 12, one end of which is firmly attached to the head 9, from which point it is carried downwardly adjacent to the heads 9 and a and the post 2, and a short distance below the head 4 it is curved outwardly and then upwardly, and the upper outer end thereof is provided with a slot or opening 13, by which it is adapted to serve as a lanternsupport, the lantern being secured thereto in any desired manner.

Formed upon the inner side of that portion of the spring-clamp 12 adjacent to the head a is a shoulder ll, adapted to fit beneath the annular shoulder 5 of the head 4 and hold the heads 4 and 9 securely together, as hereinafter described.

The lower end of the shank or spindle S is provided with a plate 15, held in place by a screw 16, by which the removal of the shank or spindle is prevented, except when desired, at which time the screw 16 may be removed in the usual manner.

The hook or clamping device 1% on the spring 12 is concaved longitudinally on its inner surface, and connected or firmly secured thereto is a piece of leather or other suitable material 17, as shown in Fig. 4, the object of which is to prevent scratching, injuring or 0therwise defacing the post 2 or head 4: when said clamp comes in contact therewith and is revolved thereon or therearound in the operation of the device.

The parts are assembled and operated in the following manner: The shank or spindle 8, provided with the handle-bar 7 and head 9, is inserted within the tubularpost 2 and pressed downwardly until the shoulder 14: on the spring-clamp 12 catches beneath the shoulder 5 on the head 4:, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the lugs or projections 6 on the head at enter the notches or recesses 10 on the head 9, as shown, and prevent the parts from revolving one upon or within the other, and the spring-clamp 12, as will be seen, prevents the removal, as long as it is in operation, of the handle-bar. In this position the shaft or spindle S will extend below the head of the fork at 3, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position it will remain as long as the locking devices are in the position shown, this being the normal position of the handle-bar and also of the lantern-holder. If, however, it is desired for any reason to change the position of the handle-bar or the lantern-holder or turn the handle-bar at right angles to the normal position, as is sometimes desirable, the spring-clamp 12 is so operated as to be caused to release its grasp beneath the shoulder 5 of the head 4 and held from contact therewith, when the and prevent the removal of the shank or spindle, and in this position, as shown in said figure, the handle-bar, together with the lantern-holder, may be turned at a right or any other angle to that of the normal position of the handle-bar, the recesses or notches 10 in the head 9 and the lugs or projections 6 in the head 4 being out of connection or contact. \Vhen in this position, if desired, the handlebar may be turned entirely around, and the lantern-holder, of course, may also be turned to any desired position, permitting the examination thereof from different standpoints, and whenever it is desired to return the parts to their normal position or that shown in Fig. 2 it is only necessary to press the spindle home within the tubular post 2 until the projection 6 and notches or recesses 10 can mesh, as shown in Fig. 2, and the spring-clamp 12, provided with the shoulder or hook 14, op-

crates beneath, the shoulder 5 on the head 1 to hold the parts together.

It will thus be seen that we accomplish the object of our invention by means of a device simple in construction and operation, which is perfectly practicable and absolutely safe, and which is not liable to be broken or otherwise damaged, and which does not materially add to the cost of the machine.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with a bicycle of the tubular post, having bifurcated end portions, the spindle within said post having upon its lower end a circular disk, the collar having upwardlyextending lugs mounted upon said post, and the handle -bar provided with a shank carrying a collar having recesses or notches, adapted to register with the lugs on the collar upon said tube, and the U-shaped clamp and lantern-holder mounted upon upper formed collar, and provided with a shoulder and adapted to pass under an annular shoulder on the lower collar to retain said collars in communication with said clamp, also being provided with a longitudinal slot, ad apted to receive the lantern, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names, in presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of March, 1895.

CARL G. DIETERICII. JESSE BOULTON. 'itnesses PERCY T. GRIFFITH, A. M. CUSACK. 

